These positions are usually located in United Nations peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and/or other field operations. Human Rights Officers usually report to the head of the human rights field office/team leader, a Senior Human Rights Officer, or designee and is under the functional supervision of the Head of Human Rights Component. In mission field offices, the Human Rights Officer may act as team leader. Applicants for this roster vacancy are expected to serve in hardship duty stations with difficult working and living conditions. An updated list of missions and additional information on working in the field can be found at http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/about/dfs/.
Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Collect and analyse information of relevance to human rights and advocates with relevant authorities and other influential actors to stop or prevent human rights violations, seek remedial action, and ensure the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights information into an established database in compliance with established standards; Liaise with appropriate national authorities, civil society, UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes with complementary mandates, and other relevant partners to monitor developments in the human rights situation and, if needed, support the creation of baseline data; Monitor the legal systems and their compliance with international human rights instruments and, where appropriate, advise relevant authorities; Develop and, where appropriate, coordinate initiatives to strengthen the response to systematic and/or emerging patterns of human rights violations and abuses, including in relation to conflict-related sexual violence; Conduct, and where necessary supervise, investigations of human rights and international humanitarian law violations in line with UN-developed methodology.
Draft, review as appropriate, and ensure timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings and communications in compliance with established standards; Formulate recommendations and suggest strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area and contribute to the mainstreaming of human rights in the UN peace operation and with UN agencies and programmes; Contribute to the integration of human rights in humanitarian action through participating or coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities, including in the Protection Cluster, as appropriate; Work directly with other UN peace operation components, including the police and military, to integrate human rights into the planning and review of their programmes and operations, including to improve the protection of civilians.
Support and coordinate human rights capacity building efforts for civil society and state authorities, including military and police, to promote the protection of human rights, including through providing technical assistance and delivers training programmes as needed; Support national authorities in their implementation of and coordination of activities relating to recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms.
Contribute to the establishment of transitional justice dialogues or processes, including vetting mechanisms, and advise national counterparts on accountability and compensation mechanisms, as appropriate; Contribute, where required, to the implementation of the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on UN support to non-UN forces, including by participating in risk assessments and ensuring relevant human rights monitoring information is gathered; Ensure the integration of child protection and sexual violence considerations in their work; integrate gender perspectives and consideration for women/girls' rights in all activities; Ensure cooperation and communication with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the establishment of policies and sharing of best practices and represent the UN human rights programme at working-level meetings and in decision-making fora.
Maintain effective working relationships with UN actors, national authorities, donors and other stakeholders for effective policy coordination; Define the work plan for an assigned geographic area in accordance with established terms of reference; Support more senior staff in staffing, planning and budgeting as required; Provide guidance and coaching to new or more junior staff; Perform other related duties as required.
Some Human Rights Officers may act as a Women Protection Adviser in the human rights component and, in this capacity, may undertake the following duties:
Support the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1820, 1888 and 1960 on Conflict-related Sexual Violence (CRSV) in close coordination with other WPAs; Monitor, investigate and report on sexual violence in conflict with respect to the Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Arrangements (MARA), regularly update the human rights case database, and contribute to the identification of patterns and trends; Conduct investigations into allegations of CRSV and take part in the development of sexual violence protection plans for women, men and children; Provide technical advice for civil society, national authorities, NGOs and the UN to promote the inclusion of CSRV prevention and response in their activities; Work closely and coordinate with Child Protection Advisers or other actors implementing the 1612 Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism; Support the referral of survivors of sexual violence in seeking protection, redress and accountability for sexual violence and contribute to the development of the referral pathway, as appropriate; Support the work of the Human Rights component in legislative and rule of law reform related to addressing sexual violence.
PROFESSIONALISM:
Proven sensitivity to the political and social environment and ability to adjust behaviours accordingly; In-depth knowledge of human rights principles, international mechanisms and related concepts, including the protection of civilians, legislative and rule of law reforms, transitional justice, security-sector reform, humanitarian action, gender integration, conflict-related sexual violence and children and armed conflict, and demonstrated ability to integrate human rights perspectives into these; Good knowledge of institutional mandates, organizational policies and methodologies relating to human rights, including on human rights due diligence; Capacity to coordinate with other UN, NGO, state and/or government stakeholders and advocate for respect for human rights in various fora; Good research and analytical skills, including the ability to identify, gather, verify, evaluate and integrate relevant political, ethnic, gender-based, social, economic and other human rights-related developments from a variety of sources, including open sources, to assess their impact and provide recommendations to redress situations; Proven understanding of the relevance of information and data management and its applicability to human rights work; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; Adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the human rights field or closely related areas is required. A minimum of one year working in a field operation of the UN or similar international organisation or non-governmental organisation in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required. A minimum of two years of human rights monitoring and reporting experience is required. Experience conducting human rights investigations is desirable. Experience monitoring and reporting on conflict-related sexual violence or on children and armed conflict is desirable. Experience working on Human Rights Due Diligence and/or conditionality issues is desirable. Experience working on Protection of Civilian issues and strategies is desirable.
For the position advertised, fluency (written and oral) in French or English is required. Knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
The United Nation Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in UN field operations, Service Centers and Offices as applicable. The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the roster Human Rights Officer at P-3 level. The entire assessment process takes an average of six months. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for field mission vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection. The United Nations is Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.